CATCA 2025: Full Schedule

COMPLETE THE CATCA 2025 SURVEY TO IMPROVE FUTURE CONVENTION

CLOSURE REMARKS FROM CATCA 2025!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE CONVENTION AND FOR CATCA 2026 WILL HAPPEN ON FEBRUARY 19 AND 20, 2026 AT RDP.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM YOUR ATA LOCALS.

All pre-recording videos will be up until May 31st.

9:00am MST

AI Prompting for Teacher Success

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

Discover how to harness the power of AI chatbots like ChatGPT to enhance your teaching practice! In this hands-on professional development session, you’ll learn how to craft effective prompts to get tailored, high-quality results including generating engaging lesson plans, creating differentiated instructional materials, or brainstorming new pedagogical strategies. Perfect for beginners and seasoned tech users alike, this session will equip you with practical skills to use AI as a creative collaborator and thinking partner. Leave with ready-to-use examples, prompt templates, and confidence to make AI work for you in the classroom.

Speakers

Terra Kaliszuk

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Terra Kaliszuk is an Executive Staff Officer in the Professional Development program area of the Alberta Teachers' Association. She brings a passion for understanding and supporting the human journey of learning to all of her work. Terra has led professional learning work for the... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions | Technology (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions

9:00am MST

The Soul of AI: Do Artificial Intelligence machines have souls?

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room AC222 (Arts Centre)

Increasingly sophisticated displays of artificial intelligence such as CHATGPT has elicited variegated responses ranging from experts decrying the need for regulation to educators embracing new possibilities for lesson planning and student learning. While many marvel at the alacrity by which AI churns out elaborate responses, AI is forcing people to ask themselves questions such as “what exactly divides humanity from machines?” This talk, designed for religious educators, delves into that question. One obvious answer is that machines don’t have souls. But is that really the case? And if so, why? Here we look at what exactly is a soul in light of Sacred Scripture as well as ancient and modern philosophy with the aim of better grasping what human-AI distinctions.

Speakers

Gerard Mclarney

Teacher, Elk Island Catholic Schools

Dr. McLarney teaches at St. Isidore Learning Center in Sherwood Park AB., and serves as a sessional instructor at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta. His academic interests include Religious Education, World Religions, J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as Sacred Scripture. His doctorate... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room AC222 (Arts Centre)

Religious & Moral Education (TQS 3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Technology (TQS/LQS 2), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

10:20am MST

Using AI to Enhance Human-Centered Work

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2501

Join this workshop to explore strategies that leverage AI to enhance communication and connection. We will explore the intersection of AI and our social and emotional world, professional considerations for leveraging AI tools for human-centered work, and versatile strategies that work with a variety of AI tools. Participants are encouraged to bring a device, such as a laptop or tablet, for the hands-on activities included in this workshop.

Speakers

Terra Kaliszuk

Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2501